Transistorized system for coupling and unification in an electric pipe organ



March 24, 1970 JAPPE ET AL 3,501,990

TRANSISTORIZED SYSTEM FOR COUPLING AND UNIFICATION IN AN ELECTRIC PIPEORGAN Filed Feb. 21. 1968 2 SheetsSheet 1 [K'lz TO FIG U i 6, t

m g m N :3 N rO v 1- '0 mm N no N 00 I N N ('3 8 8 N 8 cu AT ORNEYSUnited States Patent 3,501,990 TRANSISTORIZED SYSTEM FOR COUPLING ANDUNIFICATION IN AN ELECTRIC PIPE ORGAN Louis P. Jappe, P.O. Box 391, andGeorge L. Garber, 1362 W. 5th St., both of Winona, Minn. 55987 FiledFeb. 21, 1968, Ser. No. 707,185 Int. Cl. Gb 3/10 U.S. Cl. 84-337 9Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Intra and interdivisional coupling aswell as unification is provided in an electric pipe organ by the use oftransistor circuits. A host of transistors are arranged and connected ingroups or sets to serve as gates between the manually operated keys andthe organ pipe coils. The transistor gates are controlled or enabled bycontrol transistors which are selectively set to the operable conditionby tabs or stop switches which are manually operated by the organist.Interconnections for coupling within the divisions and between thedivisions and for unification among the various ranks of pipes producedby the transistor circuits result in a myriad of possible combinationswhich the organist can select so that even a relatively small organ hasa degree of versatility which heretofore has been difficult to attain.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention isdirected for use in the field of multiple-ranked electric pipe organs.The invention is not concerned with the manner or means by which thetones are produced but with the controls by which the organist canselect and choose the melodies and tones.

Description of the Prior Art Coupling and/or unification in electricorgans heretofore has been troublesome because the only way in which thenecessary circuits could be arranged and connected together was throughmultiple-contact ganged,

manually operable switches. The bulk of these switches Gatingtransistors are electrically connected between the coils, which areenergized to actuate the various pipes to produce the desired notes andtones, and the keyboard keys, which may be physically located in aconsole and which are manipulated by the organist to select the tones,chords andmelodies. Conduction through the respective gating transistorsto energize the corresponding coils is only possible when the set ofgating transistors is enabled by a corresponding control transistor. Thelatter is operatively responsive to a stop tab or switch which is alsoselected by the organist. Only when a gating transistor is enabled by acontrol transistor will it be able to conduct current .when theappropriate keyboard key is selected to energize the coil or coils sothat the pipes are played. To achieve versatility within a division thetransistors are connected to selectively energize multiple coils when asingle key contact is closed. Additional versatility can be 3,501,990Patented Mar. 24, 1970 achieved by electrically connecting thetransistors between divisions so that the closure of a single keycontact in one division keyboard can selectively play pipes in otherdivisions. Additionally, selection of ranks of a multiple-rank pipeorgan can similarly be achieved in a myriad of possible combinations bysimilar interconnection of the transisto'rized circuits. The only manualor moving switches involved are of the single contact toggle-typevariety so there is a minimum amount of wear on the contact points.Arcing and burning of switch contacts, which had been a major problem inelectric organs heretofore, virtually has been eliminated because of thelower power requirements of the transistor circuits.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES 1a and 1b are a combinedfunctional schematic and functional block diagram of a preferredembodiment of the invention as used for coupling in a multiple rankedelectric organ and including the various transistor circuits.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT essential part of the presentinvention so is not described herein in any detail but a brief exampleof same will be set forth. Taking, for example, a five rank pipe organ,if coil L1 is energized, in a manner to be described later, a tone couldbe produced simultaneously from all five pipes associated with that coilin the wind chest. The secondary control, not shown, is used by theorganist to select which of the five ranks (or all five) should beplayed.

Each of the coils L1-L61 actually is an assembly comprising a coilwinding 10 having a diode 11 connected across the winding. The diodeis'for protection, to eliminate the danger of a large transient inversevoltage de-' veloping a cross the coil winding. One side of each of thecoil windings 10 is connected to a DC voltage source, V, which, in atypical case may be in the order of negative 12 volts. The other side ofthe winding 10 is connected to a common junction 19 of a plurality ofinput lines. The addition of diode 11 is the only change necessary toadapt a standard organ chest to the present invention. If any of theinput lines connected to the junction 19 provides a closed circuit path,in a manner which will be described later, current will flow from theenergy source V through the coil winding 10 to energize it. Isolatingdiodes 12 are provided on each input line to eliminate cross couplingbetween the input lines.

In a typical illustrative case, with no limitation being intended, anorgan division keyboard may contain sixtyone manually operable keys,S1-S61, which are the normally-open, momentarily-close variety. One sideof each key is also connected to the V energy source. Associated witheach of the keys 51-861 is a first set of key transistor circuits whichare indentified in the drawing as K1 through K61. The circuit which isidentical for each key transistor contains a base control input terminalB resistor 13 connected from the input terminal B to the base electrode14 of the PNP transistor, an emittter electrode 15 an a collectorelectrode 16 which are respectively connected to terminals E and C. Thebase control input terminal B of each of the key transistors K1-K61 isconnected to the other side of a respectively corresponding key switch81-861, and is also connected to energy source +V through a resistor 17.Typically the +V energy source is in the order of 12 volts. The emitterinput terminal E is connected to a unison control bus 18 and thecollector output terminal C is connected as one input to respectivelycorresponding coils Ll-L61 through suitable isolating diodes 12. If theinput to emitter terminal E in K1 is active, which is accomplished in amanner which will be described later, then a momentary closing of theassociated key 8-1 will complete the baseemitter circuit of the PNPtransistor K1 so current will flow in the emitter-collector circuit fromenergy source V through the coil L1 to energize it. It can be seen thenthat for any coil input line to be able to energize the coil, the keytransistor to which that input line is connected must have both itscontrol bus and its keyboard key in actuating condition.

Control bus 18 is energized by a unison control transistor 20. Thecollector electrode 21 is connected to control bus 18 and the emitterelectrode 22 is connected to a DC energy source +V through diode 28.Diode 28 is a biasing diode and provides an approximate .6 volt drop toassist in rapid turn off of transistor 20. It also provides protectionin the event the positive and negative leads for the organ wiring shoulderroneously reversed. The base electrode 23 is connected throughresistor 24 to junction point 25 which is connected to one end of unisonswitch 27. Resistor 26 is connected between junction 25 and -+V and theother end of unison switch 27 is connected to energy source V. Unisonswitch 27 is an on-oir" toggle type. When switch 27 is closed, thenegative potential on the base electrode of the unison controltransistor 20 energizes the transistor and completes thecollector-emitter circuit to activate bus 18 and places all of the keytransistors K1-K61 in the enab ed or ready condition.

The coupler circuit which is the embodiment of this inventionillustrated in the figure, includes a second and third set of keytransistors, respectively KK49 and K"13K"61. Each of the transistorcircuits in these sets is identical to the circuit illustrated anddescribed for the first or K set of key transistors. Each key transistorin the K' and K" sets has its base input terminal B connected to acorresponding key in the keyboard. The K' set, however, only ranges fromkeys S1 through S49 and the K" set ranges from keys S13 through S61. Thereason for this will be explained later. For example, momentarilyclosing S13 will place V on the base input terminal B of K13, K'13 andK13. Similarly, each of the remaining keys in the keyboard, when closed,will place a negative potential on the base input terminal B of two orthree key transistors, each in a different set. The K set of keytransistors has a 4' coupled control bus 30 which is activated by 4'coupler control transistor 31. Similarly the K" set of key transistorshas a 16' coupler control bus 32 which is activated by 16' couplercontrol transistor 33. The circuits for both coupler control transistors31 and 33 are identical to the circuit for the unison control transistor20 and they are respectively turned on and off in the same manner as theunison control transistor by their respectively associated toggleswitches 34 and 35. The output terminals C, of each of the K and K" setsof key transistors provide additional inputs through suitable isolatingdiodes 12 to certain ones of the coils L1-L61. For example, keytransistor K is connected to the input of coil L13, K2 is connected tothe input of L14, and so forth, mutatis mutandi, up to K49 beingconnected to the input of L61. K"13 is connected back to coil L1, K"14is connected to L2, and so forth, mutatis mutandi, up to K61 beingconnected to the input of L49. It can be seen then that any one of twoor three different inputs to a coil can be used to energize that coil,and, therefore, select that group of pipes for playing. It should bepointed out that ordinarily unison switch 27 is in the closed conditionso that depressing any one of the keys in the keyboard will energize thecorresponding pipe organ coil. The 4' and 16' coupler switches 34 and35, are ordinarily open and are only brought into play when certainpitches are desired by the organist.

For a better understanding of the function of this inyention, assume,for example, the situation of unison switch 27, 4' coupler switch 34 and16' coupler switch 35 all being closed. This is done merely by theorganist flipping the toggle-type switches to the closed position. Thisplaces all of the key transistors in all three sets in the ready orenabled state in the manner described earlier. If the organist thenpresses key S13, transistors K13, K'13 and K13 all become active torespectively energize coils L13, L25 and L1 to produce a resulting tonefrom the pipes associated with these coils. As stated earlier, dependingon the rank or ranks of pipes chosen by the organist, a melodious tonemade up of a combination of numerous pipes will be produced. In thisexample, if a five rank pipe organ were being used and all five ranksselected, the organist depressing the single key S13 will produce tonesfrom fifteen different pipes.

Although the drawing illustrates the manner of coupling within akeyboard of a given unit or division, it can be-visualized thatinter-division coupling can be achieved in a like manner using sets ofidentical inter-coupling key transistors, control transistors andcontrol stops or tabs or switches. For example, if it is desired to makethe Swell division of an organ playable from the Great division on akey-to-key basis, which is commonly termed a Swell to Great eight,another set of key transistors having a circuitry identical to thosedescribed earlier would be necessary, one for each key in the Greatdivision keyboard. A Swell to Great control transistor, identical to thecontrol transistors described earlier along with a Swell to Great toggleswitch would be provided to enable the additional set of keytransistors. The Great division keyboard switches would be connected tothe respective key transistors in an identical fashion as describedearlier and the output of the key transistors would be connected asadditional inputs, through isolating diodes, to the respective coilsassociated with the wind chest 'for the Swell division. This, of course,could be readily expanded as desired to cover a variety ofinter-coupling systems such as Swell to Great 16, Great to Great 4',etc. Extensive coupling of this nature is accomplished under theteachings of this invention with a single switch contact under each keyin lieu of a separate contact for each coupler as has been the caseheretofore.

It has been found that in some instances, a negative energy source maynot be available in a given console or unit. If such is the case, aconversion transistor must be connected between the keyboard switch andthe key transistors. The conversion transistor is merely an NPNtransistor which will then respond to an applied positive potential andprovide a circuit path to complete the base circuit of the associatedkey transistors.

In a typical installation, using +12 volts and l2 volts as the energysources, the control transistors 20, 31 and 33 were the 2N456 variety,resistor 26 was 470 ohms and resistor 24 was ohms. The key transistorswere the 2N321 variety and resistors 13 and 17 were the 2200 ohms.Diodes 11 and 12 were the 1N400l variety and diode 28 a 1Nl19l. Itshould be understood that the foregoing are merely illustrative, nolimitation thereto being intended.

We claim:

1. In a pipe organ having chest coils and a keyboard, electrical circuitapparatus for providing the organist with coupling and/ or unificationby the selective operation of single-contact key and stop switches, saidcircuit comprising in combination: a manually-operable normalopensingle-contact electrical switch for each key; a plurality of sets ofthree-eletrode key transistors; means electrically coupling the baseelement of one key transistor in at least two different sets to a singlekey switch contact for completing the respective base circuits when thecorresponding key switch is closed; a plurality of manually-operable,single-contact. open-close electrical stop switches, one for each stopkey, a three-electrode control transistor for each of said stopswitches, the base element of each of said control transistorsbeingelectrically coupled to a respective stop switch for energizing thecorresponding transistor when the switch'is closed; conducting mea'nselectrically coupling oneof said control transistors to the emitterelements of a firs'tj of .said sets of key transistors for completingthe emitter circuits of said first set when said one control transistoris energized; further conducting means electrically coupling at least asecond control transistor to the emitter elements of at least a secondof said sets of key transistors for completing the emitter circuits ofsaid second set when said second; control transistor is energizedj. andadditional conducting means electrically coupling the collector elementsin each of said sets of key transistors to a selected chest coil forenergizing the chest coil when the emitter-basecircuit of thecorresponding key transistor is completed by the closing of a key switchcontact and energizing a'control transistor.

2. The invention as described in claim 1 wherein said base couplingmeans includes means electrically coupling the base element of at leasttwo key transistors, each in a difierent set of key transistors, to onekey switch contact.

3. The invention as described in claim 2 wherein said collector couplingmeans includes isolating diode means coupling the collector elements ofat least two key transistors, each in a difierent set of keytransistors, to one chest coil. I

4. The invention as described in claim 3 wherein at least one set ofsaid plurality of sets of key transistors contains one transistor foreach keyboard key. 1

5. The invention as described in claim 4 wherein said collector couplingmeans is arranged to couple the collector element of each transistor inone set of key transistors to a respective chest coil associated withthe key switch contact which is coupled to the base element of the sametransistor.

6. The invention as described in claim 5 wherein said collector couplingmeans is arranged to couple the collector element of each of thetransistors in said other sets of key transistors to a respective chestcoil which is associated with a key switch contact other than the onecoupled to the base element of the same transistor.

7. In a pipe organ having chest coils and a keyboard, electrical'circuitapparatus for providing the prganist with coupling and unification bythe selective operation of single contact key and stop switches, saidcircuit comprising in combination: a manually-operable, normally-opensingle-contact electrical switch for each key; a plurality of sets ofthree-electrode key transistors; means electrically coupling each keyswitch to the base element of one key transistor in at least twodifferent sets for completing the respective base circuits when theclosed; conducting means electrially coupling cab of said controltransistors to all of the emitter elements in respective ones of saidsets of key transistors for completing the emitter circuit of all of thetransistors in the said set when the corresponding control transistor isenergized; and conducting means electrically coupling the collectorelements of the transistors in each of said sets of key transistors tocertain ones of the chest coils for energizing the said correspondingchest coils when the emitter-base circuit of the respectivelycorresponding key transistor is completed by the closing of a key switchand energizing a control transistor."

8. The invention as in claim 7 further including a set of transistorinverters having their inputs respectively connected to correspondingconducting means between the key transistors and the chest coils forproviding an inverted signal of proper polarity to another group of setsof key transistors for providing coupling and unification in the sameorgan with single contact key switches. k

9. The invention as set forth in claim 8 wherein said another group ofsets of key transistors includes: a second group of a plurality of setsof three-electrode key transistors; means electrically coupling the baseelement of one second group key transistor in at least two difierentsets to a corresponding one of said transistor inverters for completingthe respective base circuits when the corresponding inverter is active;a second group of a plurality of manually-operable single-contactopen-close electrical stop switches, one for each of a second group ofstop keys; a three electrode control transistor for each of said secondgroup stop switches, the base element of each of said second groupcontrol transistors being electrically coupled to a respective secondgroup stop switch for energizing the corresponding transistor when theswitch is closed; conducting means electrically coupling one of saidsecond group control transistors to the emitter elements of a first ofsaid sets of second group key transistors for completing the emittercircuit of said first set when said one control transistor is energized;further conducting means electrically coupling at least another secondgroup control transistor to the emitter elements of at least another setof second group key transistors for completing the emitter circuits ofsaid another set when said another control transistor is energized; andadditional conducting means electrically coupling the collector elementsin each of said sets of JOHN F. GONZALES, Assistant Examiner US. Cl.X.R.

